Folding pocket case



Jan. 23, 1934. F HUGHES 1,944,345

FOLDING POCKET CASE Filed Aug. 10, 1929 Franc/s P. Hughes (Horn (2) )ln venfor.

Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED sr The object of my invention is to provide a construction of folding pocket case suitable for automobile drivers use by having provision for carrying keys for the car and also provided with a transparent card holding window flap suitable for holding one or more drivers license cards, railroad pass, or identification cards, the construction being such that the case with its contents can be folded into a compact form and providing full protection for the articles while, at the same time conveniently associating them in a compact form for permitting easy examination or reference.

My improved case also embodies a construction which permits a convenient carrying of paper money of the present smaller dimensions, so that it may perform the functions of a pocket book as well as a key and card case.

With the above and other objects in view, the 20 nature of which will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction of folding pocket case, as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims;

Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved folding pocket case partly opened whereby its general construction may be readily understood; Fig. 2 is an end View of the same when in closed condition; Fig. 3 is an end View of the same when fully stretched out; Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the window card carrying flap, taken on line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 showing a modification of my invention; and Figs. .6 and '7 are perspective views of modifications.

2 is the main or outer body of the case and is preferably made continuous providing the intermediate portion 3 and the cover flap-4 which may be provided with one part 5 of a snap fastener, the remaining part being indicatedat 6 in Fig. 3 and secured to the outer portion 2 in such position that the snap fastener engages the parts 2 and 4, as shown in Fig. 2. a

7 represents a card holding window flap which comprises two sets of celluloid windows 11, 11, and 12, 12, united by top and bottom bounding strips of leather 9 and 10 folded over the edges of the celluloid and extending downward upon the same at and secured thereto by lines of stitching 16, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. These leather portions 9 and 10 provide hinges 13 between the window portions 11 and 12, and said hinge portions are in alinement with the opening 14 between the two window portions 11 and 12, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction facilitates the folding of the window portion 12 downward upon the window portion 11, as as-. sumed in Fig. 2. The outer ends of the'window portion 12 are reinforced with leather portions 17 which are likewise stitched to the celluloid window portions 12, but unlike the stitches 16 for the bounding portions 9 and 10, the stitches only extend through the single ply celluloid window portions whereby an entrance slot 18 is provided for permitting the cards A and B (Fig. 4) to be inserted or removed.

At the other end of the flat '7, the celluloid window portions 11 are bounded with leather or other material indicated at 17c and at 17b, the latter extending beyond the former and secured to the body portion 2 by a line of vertical stitches 8. This provides an open mouth portion 18a through which the cards A and B (Fig. 4) may be inserted. These cards, furthermore, are pushed through both sets of windows 11 and 12, and when the flap '7 is bent over in folding up the case, the cards will be bent in the middle adjacent to the opening 14. In this manner, the cards may be inserted through either end of the window flap, namely, through the opening 18 at one end or 18a at the other end. It will be further seen that the fold or hinge portions 13 beyond the window portions 11 and 12 are in substantial alinement with the curved or hinged portion 2a 7 of the body 2, whereby when the window flap is folded upon itself, the body portion 2 may fold freely about the window flap, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2. 7

Arranged within the portion 3 of the body strip is a metallic key carrying structure 19, the same comprising a plate secured to the body strip and having hanging therefrom a plurality of key carrying hooks from which the keys, such as the door and ignition switch keys of the automobile, are suspended. Secured to the body portion adjacent to t1 e part 2a, is a cover flap 20, the latter being sunioiently large to completely cover the keys, and is secured at its inner end by a line of vertical stitches 21. This cover flap 20 acts as a shield to protect the celluloid windows 12 against abrading contact of the keys with the windows, as will readily be perceived by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, wherein the flap 20 completely separates the celluloid from the metallic structure of the key support and the keys which may be hanging thereon.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the space 22 intermediate between the window flap '7, on the one part, and the body parts 2 and 2a and 3 with the associated key protecting flap 20,

one the other part, is well adapted to receive paper money, such as the new currency bills, when extended out flat and with the window flap placed back against them, and securely holds such money in position when the case is folded as shown in Fig. 2. While the casing is not intended as a money carrying pocket book, yet it is very convenient for the automobile driver to have a suitable protected means for carrying a limited amount of money.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, I have shown the window flap '7 hinged at its opposite end to the body portion as compared with the construction shown in Fig. 3, and moreover, I have indicated that the body 2 may be provided with a pocket 7a whereby said pocket is located between the body part 2 and the window flap '7, and may, if desired, have a celluloid window as in the case of the hinged fiap .7.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a further modification of my invention which differs from the structures of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in that a pocket flap 2d is arranged between the cover portion 2 on one side and the card holding window flap '7 and key cover flap 20 on the other side, said pocket flap 2d being secured along its bottom edge at 23 and along its upright edge at 8 to the cover portion 2 and thereby providing a more or less secret pocket space 22a in which currency notes or bills may be received.

In Fig. '7, I have shown a modification of my invention suitable as a hip pocket case, in which the pocket 22 for currency notes or bills and the windowflap 7 for license cards, etc., are retained, but in which the key carrying structure 19 is omitted. In this case, there is only one folding as at 2a, and hence the case is of less thickness than where two folds are provided as in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6. Furthermore, the pocket flap 2?) for forming the pocket 22a is secured to the body portion on three sides as at 8, 23 and 23a and thereby provides a more secure holding means. Still further, pocket portions may be formed on the flap 2b as indicated at 20.

The material of which the pocket case is made should desirably be pliable, especially at the hinge parts 13 and 17b of the window flap.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pocket case of the character stated, a body portion of greater length than width and provided at one end with a key suspension means, combined with a continuous elongated window structure in the form of a flap glazed throughout its length on both sides with transparent sheets and arranged to fold upon itself at its middle, said window structure hingedly secured along one end to the end of the body portion to one side of the key suspension means and having its other end loosely overlying said key suspension means, and a hinged flap loosely extending over the key suspension means and interposed between said means and the free swinging end of the hinged flap-like window.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the elongated window flap structure is continuous and free throughout its length to be bent outward away from the body part, said window structure providing a long space between itself and the body portion for approximately the whole length of the case for receiving and holding paper currency.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the elongated window structure is glazed both on front and back substantially throughout its length and with access thereto at each end for inserting license or identification cards.

4. In a pocket case of the character stated, a body portion of greater length than width and provided at one end with a key suspension means, combined with a continuous elongated window structure in the form of a flap glazed throughout its length and arranged to fold upon itself at its middle, said flap-like window structure hingedly secured at one of its ends to the body portion to one side of the key suspension means, and having its other end overlying the said means and interposed between the same and the body of the case when said body is in folded condition.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein further, a flap is hinged at one side to the body adjacent to the key suspension means and normally interposed between said key suspension means and the window structure.

FRANCIS P. HUGHES. 

